News

29 Oct
The Howlands Christmas Fair will take place on the 10th November between 9.30am and 2.00pm.

Christmas Fair Announced.

The Howlands Christmas Fair will take place on the 10th November between 9.30am and 2.00pm.

 

The fair will be our first big fundraiser for nearly two years so we are aiming to make it a great one!

Tickets are only £2 each and include a tea or coffee and mince pie.

We’ll also have stalls for those last minute gift ideas, and a tombola for those of you who feel lucky!

Please come and celebrate the festive season with us at Howlands and help us raise funds so we can keep our doors open into our seventieth year.

Can’t wait to see you!

27 Oct
Busy once again at Howlands

Busy Once Again!

We are so pleased to share with you this picture that perfectly illustrates that Howlands is back in business.

Busy once again at HowlandsIsn’t it just fantastic to see members together again participating in those much loved activities.

We are hoping this is one of many more busy afternoons to be had at Howlands.

Come down and join us.

It would be great to see some new faces.

 

27 Oct
Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting

Announcing the Dewsbury & District League of Friendship Annual General Meeting

We are very please to announce our annual general meeting will be taking lace this year.

All are welcome to join us on Friday the 12th November 2021 at 1.30 p.m.

See you there.

Annual General Meeting

Business vector created by pch.vector – www.freepik.com</a>

21 Oct
PastedGraphic-2

Poem Created By Howlands Member

Read this poem by Michael Pickles who has been a member at Howlands for several years.

We think it’s really rather special not to mention the wonderful drawing he has developed.

Once Common, Always Common

I’m going to stay here,
Right here.
Here where I am,
Sitting at the kitchen window ;
Determined, absolutely determined,
That I’m going to see a wren.

No much to ask for, is it ?
Surely not much at all ?
Not a Golden Eagle.
Not a Marabou Stork.
Not a Bird of Paradise.
Not an Andean Condor.
Just a Jenny Wren.

Just a Jenny Wren.
I used to see them all the time.
Common as muck they were,
Common as I am ;
Back in the Sixties.

I am still Common.

PastedGraphic-2

By Michael Pickles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come along to Howlands and take part in activities, or just chat to likeminded people. You’ll be supported to follow your own interests, and the best bit, you’ll be in great company too.

15 Sep
Screen Shot 2021-09-15 at 13.25.39

WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW TRUSTEES!

WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW TRUSTEES!

Screen Shot 2021-09-15 at 13.25.39Would you like to join us?

The Howlands (Dewsbury District League of Friendship), is a charity that supports vulnerable adults with physical, learning and sensory disabilities and those with mental health issues, often worsened by loneliness and isolation. With the help of volunteers and carers, our staff provide daily sessions based around socialising, art, craft and other activities in a friendly, comfortable environment. Membership can be accessed by anyone provided that their needs can be supported. We currently have around 70 members, many of whom are lonely and isolated. Our members are often elderly and vulnerable, many have physical disabilities, dementia and other health challenges.

We are particularly interested in those looking for a new challenge with the following experience or skills:

  • People with digital and marketing experience to help us make the most of technology where we can.
  • People with local knowledge and connections in the Dewsbury and Kirklees area.
  • People with experience of engaging in art, particularly in a community setting
  • Legal experience

No previous Board experience is necessary. We are interested in hearing from people with a range of skills, not just those highlighted above. We are open to different ideas and fresh perspectives.

Board meetings generally last for around one hour quarterly, and you will be invited to attend additional events and sessions. For the foreseeable future all meetings are held via Zoom.

Are you interested?

To register your interest about joining the board, please contact Cath Longley, Chair of Trustees, tel: 07974703182, email: catherinelongley@btinternet.com for an informal chat. You will be invited as a visitor trustee to one of our meetings, to ensure that it’s the right role for you.

 

Registered Charity No: ___1184667__________

 

9 Sep
Howlands is open

Howlands Is Open For Business

Howlands is once again open and we couldn’t be happier!

Howlands is open
Come down to our friendly centre on School Street, Dewsbury and have a coffee, join in with our activities, or just come down for a chat.

We’ll be pleased to see you, as will Nigel, who as you can see from the picture hasn’t wasted any time in visiting us.

Looking forward to seeing you.

26 Aug
Screen Shot 2021-08-26 at 14.23.13

We’re Opening on Monday September 6th

It’s what you’ve all been wiating for! We’re very pleased to announce that Howlands will be open to members once again from Monday the 6th of September, and welcoming back our supporters to the Coffee Morning on Wednesday the 8th of September at 9.30am.

Screen Shot 2021-08-26 at 14.23.13We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Kirklees Council for their support in difficult times.

We have been lucky enough to benefit from Kirklees Council’s Community Buildings Recovery Grants scheme to support vital community buildings in places across the district which will help us plug the gap in our finances so that we can resume our full services.

Centre Manager Deborah Hall said: “The pandemic had a devastating effect on our fundraising efforts and our income. This grant will help us resume our work and thankfully enable us to open our doors once again to our members and volunteers on the 6th. We will be so pleased to see our regular visitors and we want to extend our welcome to new faces from across our community.

“We would like to thank all who have supported us through these difficult times.”

For further details ring 01924 463693

15 Jul
394b3dbf-d7a9-47ba-9888-ee2d81a319e5

Community Spirit Comes to the Rescue for Howlands

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue working with young people from the Princes Trust Dewsbury have transformed a neglected seating area at the side of the building in to an oasis of tranquility and beauty for members to enjoy.

34654b78-96d5-4e36-99b5-36e95b9c8e44 IMG_5234

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The transformation from an overgrown wilderness to an urban haven in only four days was the result of a lot of hard work from the eight strong volunteer team who raised funds to pay for gardening tools, paint, compost and the plants required to complete this garden makeover.

The remarkable result is a cosy seating area with raised beds of herbs, vegetables and bee attracting plants for members to tend to and sit back and enjoy on a warm sunny day.

Deborah Hall, centre manager says: “What a fabulous job of renovating our not so useable area. Not only did they completely rework and fix the raised beds, they made this area of Howlands a place we all want to engage with and be in. It really is outstanding, we can’t thank them enough, we’re just pleased that we have been able to help them in their careers, and develop personal skills and qualities such as resilience and team work through this practical experience.”

7 Jun
Mark Eastwood MP

Conservative MP for Dewsbury Visits Howlands

Conservative MP for Dewsbury, Mark Eastwood, visits Howlands to hold an ‘audience with’ session with a small group of Howlands members.

Marking the post-lockdown return to activities at the Howlands, a small number of members and volunteers were pleased to be back and have the opportunity to speak to Mark directly about his work in and around Dewsbury.

Mark Eastwood MPMark was welcomed by the group eager to learn more about him and his work on their behalf in the area.

He spoke openly about his career so far and how he was pleased to represent Dewsbury and surrounding areas. He also spoke of exciting plans for the regeneration of the town to get it back on track to be the vibrant place it once was.

“Everyone was really pleased that Mark had been able to give some of his valuable time to come to Howlands. It seemed fitting the visit coincided with us easing in to returning to normal membership activities and meetings. His visit has given us the incentive and confidence to go forward with our plans for eventually returning to our usual routine, and we can’t wait.”

26 Apr
IMG_5023

Duck Family in a Happy Place Thanks to Howlands

Whilst motoring down Daisy Hill in the Centre of Dewsbury, Deborah, our manager noticed these ducks sheltering in

a car park.

IMG_5023With some help she rounded them up and took them into Howlands.

When the duck and her brood  had calmed down Deborah then took them to a local canalwhere they were seen happily paddling along and enjoying the sunshine.

?